It can be hard to say goodbye to old, reliable technology as it sunsets. This is why CD’s have held on for so long! But when it comes to business communication, it’s best to change with the times.
1. What features?
You should not be required to purchase any phone system features you don’t want nor need. A good phone system vendor, will have every day used features as standard, not “extra” —never lock yourselves into a contract you can’t change.
2. How many phones will I require?
The answer to this question is largely up to you. However, you should decide whether a phone system is necessary for certain employees depending on their roles. Even if the phone is not used, you will still be charged for the telephone as well as its ongoing support. Ask for the freedom to make changes as necessary, especially if your organization is growing, moving locations, or increasing your staff. Some employees may prefer to use a softphone—an extension in their pocket on a smartphone, or on their desktop computer—instead of a desk phone.
3. Do I need CRM integration?
If the answer to this question is “Yes”, then you can save yourself a lot of cash and stress if you consider this as part of your vendors analysis. You don’t want to hear after 6 months, “that will be a custom development”. Choose a system that has proven integration to your CRM and can deliver the integration features your business requires. Don’t be surprised if some vendors have the “CRM integration box” ticked but turns out its very basic and not at all what you require that will add value and improve your processes.
4. Installation, support and troubleshooting?
Support should be available to suit your business hours, in this era of remote workers, remote installations etc. the requirement for local support is not that important, but what is important is to have access to well-versed support staff that know and understand your business, its pain points, and can help you effectively troubleshoot any technical challenges. Be careful that your support is not outsourced to a third-party provider.
5. Remote/work-from-home employees?
It is now the norm that employees have the choice to work from home, the office or a combination of both. It is therefore a must that they can access their phones and dashboards from anywhere. Cloud based system gives you this flexibility